Railway-switch



E. Q. NORTON. RAILWAY SWITCH.

(No Model.)

Patented Jan. 5, 1897.

A TTOH/VEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD QUINCY NORTON, OF DAPHNE, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALF TO DANIEL P. BROWN, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,753, dated January 5, 1897.

Application filed July 3, 1896. Serial No. 597,961. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD QUINCY Non- TON, of Daphne, in the county of Baldwin and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railway-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in railwayswitches, and has for an object to providea simple easily operated construction whereby the train upon the main line may positively operate the switch-points to insure an open main line whether the train be coming in one direction or the other; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a switch constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing a portion of one of the main-line rails with thepoint-operating rod or bar alongside the same. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are cross-sections on about lines 3 3, 1 4, and 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the pivot of the operating-bar. Fig. 7 shows a somewhat-modified construction, and Fig. 8 is a front view of the locomotive with the actuating devices.

In the construction shown the main-line rails A and the switch-points B and C may be, in general respects, of ordinary construction. The points B and O are pivoted at D and are tied together by abar E, ,so they move in unison. These points may be operated by the switch-rod F into register with the main line or the siding, but are not connected rigidly with the said switch-rod but are joined thereto by a yielding connection secured through the medium of a spring G, bearing between the switch-points B and C and secured at its middle to the rod F at g, the spring fitting upon the rod F, asbest shown in Fig. 1. This construction permits the movement of the switchpoints by the rod F and at the same time permits the switch-points to move independently of the said rod F as may be desired in the operation of the device, as more fully described hereinafter. The switch-rod F and the devices for holding it in either position to which it may be adjusted may be of the construction shown or of any other desired construction.

- points.

If in operation a train be approaching [11 switch, asindicated by the arrow No. 1 in Fig. l, and it is desired to continue on the main line, my improved devices afford means whereby such result may be automatically accomplished. To this end I provide an operatingbar H, extended alongside the switch-point it is designed to operate, provided with a portion It to engage and operate said switch point and with a portion or portions h for engagement by the actuating device.

' In the preferred construction, as shown in Figs. 1 to (3, the operating-bar is in the nature of a plate which is given an approximately spiral twist or bend, so that its portion h for engagement with the switch-points is man approximately vertical plane in the normal position of the operating-bar, and the said bar grad uallyinclines or tapers thence toward the portion h, where the operating-bar is engaged by the actuating device. By this construction the actuating device, whether it be a flange of the locomotive drive-wheel or a projecting tripping-rod I, as shown in Fig. 8, will tend by riding upon the spiral surface of the operating-bar to turn the same gradually and easily, and so avoid the jars or shocks and incident damage which might result from a too rapid actuation of the operating-bar. It is also preferred to provide a small projection 7L2 to engage-0r bear against the switchpoint. This double form of operating-bar may be especially preferred for use alongside the unbroken main -,line rail and in cases where it is desired to operate the operatingbar by trains running in either direction; but for use on switch-points like 0 the double form of operating-bar shown in Fig. 2 will not ordinarily be necessary, andthe single form of operating-bar shown at H in Fig. 1 may be employed, such bar being similar in all respects to the bar shown in Fig. 2, except that the portion between the central portion h and one end of the double operating-bar is omitted. The purpose of this short form of operating-bar H (shown in Fig. 1) is to enable the operation of the switch-points by a train coming off the switch in the direction indicated by the arrow No. 2 in Fig. 1 before the weight of such train comes upon the switch- Now in operation the operating-bar may be thrown in ordinary use to set the switch-point B to thedotted-line position shown in Fig. 5, and when the train has passed the spring G will throw the switch-point and the operating-bar back from the dotted-line position, Fig. 5, to the full-line position shown in such figure, but-if it'is desired tolock the switch-point the operating-bar may be thrown down farther by setting the tripping projection I lower, so the operating-bar will remain in position holding the switch-point in register with the main line until they are released by hand or in other suitable manner.

In Fig. '7 I show a somewhat-modified construction comprising a shaft H having a crank-arm 11 for engagement by the tripping projection I of the locomotive anda cam H to engage and operate the switch-point. Manifestly. this may be employed, in lieu of the; operating bar H or. H, without involving a, departure, from the broad principlesofl my invention.

Havingthus described .my invention, what.- I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The improved switch comprising the s witch-point and an operating rod or. bar extended alongside the same and having a portionto engage the saidgpoint and aportion for. operation .by. the locomotive or car substantially. asshownand described;

2. An improved; switch comprising. the switch point'and operating rod or bar. e -H tending-alongside said pointand,movabletm wardandiro nthe same, said rod or bar hay..-

inga portion to engage theswitch and a.por tion forengagement by, the actuatingdevicc substantially as, shown and described,

3.,An improved switch comprising the switch-point the operating rod or bar extended alongside the same and having at its middle a portion to engage the point and at its opposite end portions for engagement by the actuating device, substantially as shown and described.

4. A switch comprising the switch-point and the operatin g-bar arranged alongside and movable toward and from the point, such bar being formed of a plate having a portion to engage the point and a portion for engagement by the actuating device and having an approximately spiral. twist between said points substantially as shown and described.

5. The improved switch herein described comprising the switch-point, the operatingbar extending alongside the same, andcomposed of a plate provided between its ends with a portiontoengage the switch-point and having betweenlsaid portion and itsends an approximately. spiral twist substantially as shown and described.

6. Inaswitch.substantially as. described,

the combination of the switch-points, thgeop erating bar or rod,- arranged alongsideand turning toward. and, from one-of. the said points and havingan intermediateportion to engage, the said point: andppposite endportions for engagementby.,th e actuatingdevice, and.an. operating rod or bar arranged alongside the, othelzpoint and movable toward and from the same the latter bar havinga,

portion to operate the point and a portionfor engagement by the actuating device substantially asshown and described.

EDMFARD QUINGY. NORTON. Witnesses:

P. B. T URPlN SoLoN C. KEMON. 

